Boat top



Oct. 9, 1951 Filed April 1, 1947 o. T; BIRDLEBOUGH 2,570,911

BOAT TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet l NYENTOR OTIS T. BIRDLEBOUGH BY I KM," A 14%;

HIS ATTORNEYS Oct. 9, 1951 o. T. BIRDLEBOUGH BOAT TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1, 1947 OTIS T. BIRDLEBOUGH i atentetl Oct. 9, 1951 V. UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFICEI j i I Q V .4. r This invention relates to a boat top,- and more part cularl to a sliding top and ccver-partiew i'arly adapted to the use of small boats si-ich a-s -in'otor launches or the like.

"Aprima'ry object of this invention is-the -prov isii"on- -o'f an improved boat top characterizedlay irieanswhereby the sa m'e'may -be positioned in a "plurality of positions, and serve --additionally as a side spray shield, as for instance rough weather.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of sucha device which-may be readily adjustd'to a plurality ofpositionsiaffordingside spray shields, when desired, or side-spray shields and a top, the sides andtop-bothbeingadjustable to a plurality of positions.

Stillanother object of thefi'nvention istheprovisionof such devicewhich is stur'dy and-durable of construction; reliable-and-efiicient in operation,

sam led and installed with a minimum fffort,

difliculty and expense.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as a de'scription ofth'e inin drawings, wherein there" is disclosda1pre-- "ferred form of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top, fragmentary, plan view of one form of device embodying features of the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a boat showing the device in one position of adjustment, the side spray shields being positioned forwardly, and the canopy or top folded forward; 4

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing an alternative position of adjustment wherein the spray shields are moved rearwardly away from' the wind shields and the canopy is extended;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing my new boat top with the canopy ribs in extended position, but with the cloth cut away to show the structural details;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-section taken alon the line 66 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing my new boat top in forward position with back curtains attached.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawine Referring now to the drawings, there is genso which *may 'be readily manufactu asyentitin'prOCeed'S, andshown in the accompany- "I *iwr'rae'k H is adapted-for the sliding accommodation of side =mef'nbers 1 8, each of which is gen- "rally triangular in "configuration, the forward and rear edges of whichslope upwardstow-ards "iieio where they converge, and the forward ge I 9- of whichis adapted-to closely-engage the clined-rear surface of the windshield IB. Each side member is provided with a transparent pane 26* to permit visibility'therethrough. The side shields areal'soprov-ided with rollers 2 lmounted within the lower edges thereof and adapted to ifide a-12mg {the tracks l H in such manner that lakeside-shields may be readily slid froma position aii j-ace-rit thewindshield l ii toa point at the extreme rear of the track as shown in Fig. 5, for example. Latch means 22 are provided for securing the side shields in a forward position and similar latch means 23 may be provided for retaining the same at any other desired position.

From the foregoing it will now be obvious that o the side shields I8 may be adjusted from the position shown in Fig. 2 to any position along the tracks H, as for example, the position shown in Fig. 3, or alternatively enclose the motor, at the 7 same time allowing free ventilation of the front seat.

A top canopy 24 is also provided and may be comprised of any desired material, as for example, glass wool or the like. The canopy 24 is attached at its forward end to a supporting rib member 25 extending from the apex of one side member to the apex of the other. The rear end of the canop is attached to another rib member 26 having at each extremity metal guides 21 adapted to slidably grip the side rods 28. These side rods extend rearwardly from the apices of the side members l8, being secured thereto at one end by pivot means 29, and have their other extremities secured by pivot means 30 to vertical rods 3 I. These vertical rods 3| are adapted, when the cover is open, as in the position shown in Fig,

2, to be folded forward along the inside of the side members I8 and held in place by suitable clips 32, as shown in Fig. 2.

However, when it is desired to raise the canopy to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the rods 3| are adapted to be positioned in cup-shaped sockets 33 attached to the rear of the side members l8, thus supporting the side rods 28 in normally horizontal position. With the rods in such positionthecanopy or cover 24 may be'unfolded by sliding the rib member 26 re'arwardly along the side rods 28 until it reaches a point immediately forward of the vertical rods 3|, at which:

point it is retained against forward movement by angle brackets 34.

then swung down parallel to the vertical rods 31 Braces 35, pivotally at-'-" tached near the ends of the rib member 26 are,

and fastened thereto by means of latcheslfl.

It will be noted that additional supportingribs;

3B and 31, slidable along the horizontal rods 28,

of webbing 38, as shown in Fig. 4. If desired, the suporting ribs may be so constructed in two parts that one section maybe adjustably telescoped within the other to fit a cockpit of any given width. When the canopy is not in use, the ribs 26,, 36, and 3'! may be slid forward along the side rods 28 until they reach the forward rib 25, and the canopyfolded over them into a compact package held in place by straps 39, as shown in Fig. 1. v p 7 Snaps 4| may be positioned along the upper edges. of the side members 18, the rear of the top canopy 24, and the gunwales and rear of the cockpit, in order that additional curtains may be snapped in place to completely enclose the cockpit, as shown in Fig. 7.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there 2 is herein provided an improved cover or canopy for boats, including side members, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

I claim:

1. In combination with a boat including an open cockpit and an inclined Windshield, track- Ways along the sides of said cockpit, side memfpieces; 3' v 2;-In combination with a boat including an open cockpit and an inclined windshield, trackways along the sides of said cockpit, side members including transparent portions, slidable in said trackways, said side members being of generally triangular configuration with the forward leg thereof closely abutting the ends of said windshield in forward position, and the rear leg .ethereof tapering to substantially the level of the boat deck, a cover extending over said side members, meanssupporting the rear extremity of said cover beyond the rear extremities of said A side pieces, said last mentioned means including vertical rods removably positioned in sockets attached to the rear extremities of said side members, and side rods each pivotally connected at one extremity to one of said vertical rods, and at its other extremity to the apex of one of said side members.

OTIS T. BIRDLEBOUGH.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

